Analysis Vessel Stability The pleasure craft was rendered unstable by the presence of 55persons unevenly distributed on the upper deck. This instability became critical during the departure, at which time the heeling moment created by the movement of persons to the port aft side was not compensated for by an equal balancing righting moment. This allowed the pleasure craft to continue its heel to port until it capsized. Number of Persons Aboard The renter, the organizers, and the skipper were all aware of the pleasure craft's limit of 32 persons, which had been set by the owners. Further, it had been agreed to make hourly trips so as to stay in compliance with this limit. However, no control was exercised over the number of persons boarding the pleasure craft, and consequently the vessel was overloaded. Maximum Capacity The Small Vessel Regulations, for pleasure craft not over 6m in length, requires that a capacity plate, or single vessel plate, be permanently affixed to the craft and in a conspicuous position plainly visible from the helm, indicating the maximum number of occupants. Craft such as the QuintanaRoo are outside that prescription, and are not required to determine or display maximum load capacity. This puts at risk any persons making use of pleasure craft greater than 6 m in length, particularly novice boaters or first-time renters who would benefit from such information. No control was exercised over the number of persons boarding the pleasure craft, causing the vessel to be overloaded. Too many persons, unevenly distributed on the upper deck, rendered the pleasure craft unstable. The pleasure craft capsized when there was no compensation for the heeling moment created by the movement of persons to the port aft side of the upper deck.Findings as to Causes and Contributing Factors No control was exercised over the number of persons boarding the pleasure craft, causing the vessel to be overloaded. Too many persons, unevenly distributed on the upper deck, rendered the pleasure craft unstable. The pleasure craft capsized when there was no compensation for the heeling moment created by the movement of persons to the port aft side of the upper deck. The lack of a requirement to display the pleasure craft's maximum load/capacity on pleasure craft exceeding 6m in length puts vessels and persons at risk, particularly novice boaters or first-time renters who would benefit from this information.Finding as to Risk The lack of a requirement to display the pleasure craft's maximum load/capacity on pleasure craft exceeding 6m in length puts vessels and persons at risk, particularly novice boaters or first-time renters who would benefit from this information. Safety Action Safety Concern In Transport Canada's sample Rental Boat Safety Checklist7 (see AppendixC), an operator is required to confirm that the maximum load capacity and number of persons in the pleasure craft will not exceed the amount stated on the capacity plate. The checklist continues: If a capacity plate is not fitted, the load capacity and number of persons in the pleasure craft shall not exceed the manufacturer's recommendation. While the owner, the renter, the organizers, and the skipper in this occurrence were all aware that the owner's maximum limit of persons aboard was32, in the absence of capacity plates, renters of other pleasure craft over 6m in length may not have this information. The Small Vessel Regulations require that, for pleasure craft not over 6m in length, a capacity plate, or single vessel plate, be permanently affixed to the craft and in a conspicuous position plainly visible from the helm, indicating the maximum number of occupants. Craft such as the QuintanaRoo are outside this requirement and do not need to determine or display maximum load capacity. The Board is therefore concerned that this puts at risk persons making use of pleasure craft greater than 6m in length, particularly novice boaters or first-time renters who would most benefit from such information.